Tigers' Chambers getting comfortable at tailback

Which explains his reaction recently when Clemson coaches asked the sophomore to switch from safety to tailback.

"I wasn't upset, but I wasn't sure I wanted to do it," Chambers said. "But I'm kind of happy about it."

Kind of happy?

"Yeah," Chambers said. "Kind of, sort of."

Forgive Chambers if he's not real pleased with his latest shift: the guy changes positions more than Donald Trump changes wives.

When the Pageland Central product signed with Clemson in 2005, he was a tailback/slot receiver. He was immediately switched to safety. And after a redshirt season and freshman year getting comfortable in the defensive backfield, the Tigers' lack of backfield depth forced a move back to tailback.

With limited depth ahead of him, Chambers has a chance to get on the field immediately behind James Davis and C.J. Spiller. Which means he'll come around — eventually.

"I like it," he said of tailback. "It's a chance for me to get on the field. I want to get on the field, plus, I did it for the team. If I get out there, it'll make me happy."

Chambers has a definite track record as a backfield star. He was South Carolina's Class AA Back of the Year as a junior and senior, leading Pageland Central to a state title as a junior. That year, he rolled up 1,031 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as a quarterback/tailback.

Colleges, including Clemson, recruited him as a tailback or slot receiver.

But with Davis, Reggie Merriweather and others in the backfield, safety was a natural fit.

"I was a little upset about that," Chambers said.

Two years in the defensive backfield changed his mind.

Chambers played in 11 of 13 games last season, making 10 tackles and causing a key fumble against North Carolina. He was getting comfortable — hence, the apprehension about switching.

"I started playing defense, and defense is in my blood," he said. "I'd probably have stayed with defense."

Clemson's coaches thought otherwise. Davis and Spiller are one of the best tailback duos in America, but there's little behind them. Talented recruit Jo Jo Cox was denied admission by Clemson, backup Demerick Chancellor transferred after rushing for 276 yards and a touchdown, and coaches have concerns about Ray Ray McElrathbey's abilities to juggle football, academics and being the primary custodian to his 11-year-old brother Fahmarr.

McElrathbey technically backs up Spiller and Chambers spells Davis, but coaches clearly feel more comfortable with Chambers as a primary backup.

"I'd just like to see him act a little hungrier," Powell said of McElrathbey. "Whether he's hungrier or not, I'd like to see him act a little hungrier, like he wanted the position, like he was dying to get it."

And either way, Chambers will get his share of playing time.

"Whoever the next guy is, he's the second, not the third (team)," Powell said. "He's got to learn what we're doing, and they've got a lot to do — the runs are the easy part, but there's pass protection, formations and motions. In this league it's hard for one guy to play every snap."

Clemson coach Tommy Bowden refers to Chambers (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) as "a combination" of Spiller and Davis, but Davis sees more of himself.

"If you look at him, he's more my frame, runs like me, about the same speed," Davis said. "You can tell he's a natural running back. We're trying to give him a lot of responsibility, because we want him to play just like we do."

Despite his initial hesitation, Chambers would love that opportunity.

"I feel like if I get my chance, my opportunity, I can prove to people I can get the job done," he said. "That's all I want to do — get on the field and show people my talents."

NOTABLE

n A pair of young linemen will be out for at least the next two weeks after undergoing minor surgeries. Freshman offensive tackle Landon Walker had arthroscopic knee surgery Wednesday, while sophomore defensive end Jamie Cumbie will undergo exploratory shoulder surgery today. Cumbie's ailment is unclear, but he is thought to have torn cartilage in the shoulder. Cumbie was injured during the early portion of practice Tuesday, but finished the three-hour workout with nary a complaint. Offensive line coach Brad Scott said Walker merely aggravated a high school injury. "It was apparently scar tissue that got tweaked the wrong way and cartilage got locked into the joint," Scott said.

n Senior defensive end Kwam Williams was battling for playing time with Ricky Sapp, but has moved to the other end spot to back up Phillip Merling in Cumbie's absence.

n Bowden said that freshman fullback Chad Diehl, a Byrnes graduate, has returned home briefly to deal with some "family issues" similar to what James Davis experienced two years ago. He was confident Diehl would return by this weekend.

n Clemson practiced in full pads for the first time Wednesday; Bowden said his team was "a little discombobulated" due to summer school finals, but said the Tigers did kicking as well as "inside drills" with tailbacks taking full contact. "It's a comfort level of playing in full gear," he said. "Until you do it, you can't get a feel for it."